Barrel-hoop.



PATENTBD DEC. 26, 1905.

m M Wm a W W 2 m J 5 9 5 6 MW, E m J 2 TMm J fi e 1 5 wtweooeo UNITESTATES THOMAS E. WHITE, OF OKISKO, NORTH CAROLINA.

BARREL-HOOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

Application filed December 9, 1904. Serial No. 236,168.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs E. WHITE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Okisko, in the county of Pasquotank and State of NorthCarolina, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Barrel-Hoops, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hoops for use upon barrels or other casks, andhas for its objects to produce a simple inexpensive device of thischaracter which may be readily applied to the cask and manipulated formaintaining tight joints between the staves of the latter, one whichwill be securely retained in place and one which will readily andaccurately conform to the cross-sectional contour of the cask.

To these ends the invention comprises the novel feature of constructionand combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, and partiallypointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of acask, showing my improved hoops applied thereto. Fig. 2 1s a top planView of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the hoops. Fig.4

is a detail view showing one form of engaging member embedded in thematerial of the cask. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing another form ofembodiment of engaging member.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a cask of the ordinaryconstruction and material built up of a series of staves 2, and 3 theimproved hoops applied thereto. The hoops 3 are each composed of asingle length of wire or other appropriate material bent into shape andhaving its ends terminating in engaging eyes 4, constituting ahingejoint, there being formed in the hoop at a point diametricallyopposite the hinge 4 a twisted extension 5, terminating in an open eyeor loop'6, the extension 5 being produced byintertwisting the wire priorto bending the same in opposite directions for embracing the cask.

Disposed at suitably-spaced intervals upon the hoop 3 are engagingmembers 7, each consisting of a length of wire coiled, as at 8, aroundthe body of the hoop for pivotal movement thereon and having a dependingportion or shank 9, terminating in an inwardly-projecting sharpened spuror prong 10, disposed at right angles to the shank 9,

the spurs 10 being adapted to enter and become embedded in the materialof the cask at appropriate intervals around the circumference of thelatter.

In practice the hoops are applied to the cask, as illustrated in Fig. 1,preferably with the extensions 5 of the respective hoops projectingalternately at diametrically opposite points on the cask and the spurs10 of the engaging members firmly embedded in the material of theadjacent staves 2 for maintaining the hoops securely in position. In theevent of the staves opening at the oints and causing leakagecircumferential pressure may be applied to the cask by inserting in theeye 6 an appropriate tool and manipw lating the latter to twist the neck5, thereby tensioning the hoop for effecting the desired compression, aswill be readily understood. It will be observed that owing to the hoopbeing formed in a single piece and composed of yieldable material itwill readily conform to the crosssectional contour of the cask, whilethe engaging members 7 will have sufiicient sliding movement relative tothe hoop to insure the points 10 remaining at all times in secureengagement with the cask during stretching or tensioning of the hoopsand for permitting proper adjustment of the members on the hoop relativeto the staves. It is to be particularly observed that owing to theextensions 5 being arranged at diametrically opposite points in applyingthe respective hoops to the barrel the tension on the staves of thelatter will be equalized anddistributed uniformly throughout thecircumference of the cask.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated a slightly-different form of engagingmember 7 consisting of a length of wire wrapped around the body of thehoop 3 and having both of its ends projected horizontally inward fromthe latter and sharpened to produce a pair of engaging spurs 10. Inother respects the construction and operation are identical with thatabove described.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is Awire hoop for barrels, casks and the like comprising a single section ofyieldable wire bent into hoop form and having eyes at the free ends ofthe same to form a hinge-joint, and securing devices loosely coiled onthe wire which serves to render them movable thereon, said securingdevices having shanks provided with right-angular prongs and a Intestimony whereof I afl iX my signature tension-loop arrangeddiametrically opposite in presence of tWo Witnesses.

' the hinge-joint of the hoop which serves to THOMAS E WHITF permit ofthe hoop being twisted contiguous 5 With the loop to force said hooptightly Witnesses:

against the periphery of the barrel, substan- J. C. SPENOE, tially asspecified. J. T. SPENcE.

